Rose plant named ‘ESM R129’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘ESM R129’, characterized by its upright, long and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit and high productivity; dark green-colored leaves; red-colored flowers that are typically grown as single-stem types; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ESM R129’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Roseplant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a cutflower Rose plant, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ESM R129’.

The new Rose plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new cut flower Rose varieties withattractive flowers and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Rose plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in February, 2008 of a proprietary Rose selection identified asLine 42, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryRose selection identified as Line 406, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Rose plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in El Quinche,Pichincha, Ecuador in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by bud grafting in ElQuinche, Pichincha, Ecuador since March, 2010 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rose have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ESM R129’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ESM R129’ as a new and distinct Rose plant:

-   -   1. Upright, long and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and high productivity.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Red-colored flowers that are typically grown as single-stem        types.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the female parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose have longer flowering stems than        plants of female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Rose have more petals than        flowers of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Rose are longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the male parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose produce more flowering stems than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Rose are longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of Rosa hybrida‘Freedom’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in ElQuinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Rose differed from plantsof ‘Freedom’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose had longer and stronger flowering        stems than plants of ‘Freedom’.    -   2. Plants of the new Rose were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Freedom’.    -   3. Plants of the new Rose had fewer thorns than plants of        ‘Freedom’.    -   4. Plants of the new Rose had larger flower buds than plants of        ‘Freedom’.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Rose were longer-lasting than        flowers of plants of ‘Freedom’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Rose plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Rose plant.

The photograph on the left side of the sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘ESM R129’.

The photograph at the upper right of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical developed flower of ‘ESM R129’.

The photographs at the lower right of the sheet are close-up views ofthe upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘ESM R129’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in 10-liter containers in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador and under typicalhydroponic Rose production practices. Plants were pinched 13 to 14 weeksafter planting and were two years and 47 weeks old when the descriptionand photographs were taken. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 12° C. to 16° C. and light levels ranged from 800 to 1,200foot-candles. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida ‘ESM R129’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Rosa hybrida identified Line 42, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Rosa hybrida identified Line 406, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By bud grafting.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 26° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days            at temperatures about 22° C. to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; close to            N199B in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density            to dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and strong            flowering stems; typically grown as a single-stem type cut            flower; vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit; highly            productive with about 11.5 flowering stems developing per            plant per year.        -   Plant height.—About 180 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 60 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About eleven lateral branches            develop per plant. Length: About 94 cm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Internode length: About 5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; older stems, woody. Color: Close to N199B. Thorns:            Density: Medium. Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate            apices; slightly incurved and flat. Height: About 8 mm.            Length, at base: About 1.1 cm. Color, immature: Close to            187C and 153D. Color, mature: Close to 184A and 162A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically five to            seven leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length.—About 20.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 12.8 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 6.7 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 6.2 cm.        -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth; papery to            coriaceous.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            147A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 148B and            183D. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to            between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 152D. Fully            expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 152D.        -   Petioles, leaves.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About            1.8 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            199A, 146A and 187B. Color, lower surface: Close to 152B and            144A.        -   Petioles, leaflets.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            146A and 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to between 146C            and 144A.        -   Stipules.—Arrangement and appearance: Two, adnate to the            petiole, leafy in appearance. Length: About 3.25 cm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acuminate,            tapered. Base: Tapered. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth; membranous. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A to 146C. Color,            lower surface: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Symmetrical rosette flowers;            flowers typically grown as single-stem types; flowers face            upright.        -   Flowering season.—Plants of the new Rose flower year-round            under greenhouse conditions; early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about 73 days after pinching.        -   Flower diameter.—About 11.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.1 cm.        -   Flower longevity.—Excellent postproduction longevity;            flowers maintain good substance for about 26 to 28 days on            the plant and for about 15 to 17 days as cut flowers;            flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Rate of opening: About 14 to 15 days. Color:            Towards the apex, close to 183B; towards the base, close to            144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity: About 46 per flower; petals imbricate.            Length: About 6.4 cm. Width: About 6.6 cm. Shape: Nearly            round to transversely ovate. Apex: Short acute. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire or slightly and irregularly lobed.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; papery            to coriaceous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            53A; towards the base, close to 154D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 60A; towards the base, close to 154D.            Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 46A;            towards the base, close to 150D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity: About three; whorled. Length: Variable.            Width: Variable. Shape: Irregularly shaped. Apex: Short            acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Mostly uneven. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; papery to coriaceous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 53A            and 157D; towards the base, close to 154C. Fully opened,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 53A and 157D; towards the            base, close to 155A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 5.6 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape:            Roughly deltoid. Apex: Tapered. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire; ciliated and/or glandular. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Leathery; rugose. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to between 145A and 146C. When opening, lower            surface: Close to between 144A and 146A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to between 146C and 145C. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 144A and N199C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 111 per            flower. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.            Anther color: Close to 163B. Filament color: Close to 53D.            Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close to            163B. Pistils: Quantity: About 194 per flower. Pistil            length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Broadly reniform. Stigma            color: Close to 160B. Style length: About 1.4 cm. Style            color: Close to 154D. Receptacle height: About 1.1 cm.            Receptacle diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle shape:            Cup-shaped. Receptacle texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle            color: Close to 145A. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Rose.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have not been    observed to be tolerant to specific pathogens and pests common to    Rose plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from 0° C. to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘ESM R129’ asillustrated and described.